Fluid flow control means



Sept. 3, 1940. J. B. BERARD 2,213,663

FLUID FLOW CONTROL MEANS Filed April 15, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l Era: 7 3S 46 g: 56

7 4 s I 1! 5o 3 5 1 26 28 1 i 27 62 t 2s 29 I H 55 6'0 as M 1 6'1 24 y 1 21 25' I I 22 1s 12 l I! JOHN B. BEKARD INVENTOR TTORNEY Sept. 3, 1940. J. B. BERARD 2,213,663

FLUID FLOW CONTROL MEANS Filed April 1s, 1938 2 She ets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 3, 1940 UNITED STATES FLUID FLOW CONTROL MEANS John B. Berard, Providence, R. I.

Application April 13,

2 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved control means for the fuel supply for oil burners and the like in which a liquid fuel is employed and wherein changing conditions of operation require varying feeds at intervals of greater or less duration to compensate for temporary operating requirements.

In the operation of oil burners and the like it is desirable that there be provided a substantially constant flow of fuel during the greater part of the operation of the burner, while it is also desirable that the flow be increased materially at intervals to meet specific conditions, such as, those arising from starting the burner or restarting it, either manually or automatically, after it has been stopped accidentally or through the operation of some form of control means. The amount of fuel necessary for starting the burner is considerably in excess of that required for its normal operation under ordinary conditions after it is placed in full operation, and the amount of fuel necessary for its normal operation is insuflicient to secure its starting with certainty under all conditions.

One object of the present invention is the provision of a control means for devices of this character adapted to control the fuel supply in such a manner as to compensate for inequalities in the fuel requirements under varying conditions, provide an adequate fuel supply during the period of initial operation and at the same time regulate the supply during continued operation to the normal needs of the burner in view of the temperature requirements.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a control means of this character in which the control mechanism is adapted and intended to function only within certain operating limits, which may be varied as desired but never to the extent of cutting off entirely the supply of fuel to the burner.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a control means of this character having resilient cushioning means normally effective for regulating narrowly the flow of fuel to the burner together with means for insuring a materially increased flow of fuel temporarily upon starting the burner in order to obtain certainty in the proper and complete initiation of the burner operation.

Another object of the invention is the provision in a control means of this character of a control member provided with main and supplemental control actuating elements, the last named being normally efiective for maintaining 1938, Serial No. 201,709 (Cl. 137139) a substantially constant flow of fuel, while said main actuating element is operable to overcome said supplemental control element and increase the flow of fuel materially when required, together with means for bringing into operation said main control actuating element when necessary.

A further object of the invention is the provision of resiliently connected actuating means for moving the control member from its normal operating position into position to provide for an increasedflow-of fuel to the burner, whereby the abruptness of movement of the control member is cushioned, and sudden and violent changes of flow eliminated.

Other objects and advantages of the invention relate to various improved details of construction and novelv arrangements of the parts, as well as certain advantages in operation as will be more fully set forth in the detailed description to follow.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the control mechanism taken in a direction transversely of the general direction of the fuel supply pipe,

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the mechanism, taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. l,

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of the mechanism, taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, and,

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of a system of electrical control means and circuits therefor such as may be employed in operating the burner as well as the solenoid coil for actuating the control member.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated herewith, I designates a fuel supply pipe for conveying liquid fuel to a burner 2 provided with a suitable ignition mechanism 3, which may be electrically connected with a thermostat 4 and solenoid coil 6 through a protecto-relay mechanism 'l to which current is supplied from a main circuit through a manually operated main switch 8, there being also provided a pump operating motor 5 which is operated by current from the protecto-relay I. A suitable transformer coil 9 may be located in the ignition circuit to modify suitably the current voltage supplied to the 4 ignition mechanism. The construction and arrangement of these parts are indicated only generally and in a diagrammatic manner as they may be varied widely dependent upon the particular type of burner employed and the specific arrangement of electrically connected means regarded as suitable for its operation.

Suitably positioned in the fuel supply pipe I is a casing III provided with fuel passages ll, one of which has a restricted opening 12 establishing communication between the two fuel passages. Internally threaded extensions M are provided for connecting the fuel passages I l with opposed sections of the fuel supply pipe I.

A control member receiving channel I5 is lo-' cated within the casing and extends angularly with respect to the general direction of the fuel passages II to receive a control member I6 having a reduced end portion I! located in position to cooperate with the restricted opening I2 for regulating the supply of fuel to the burner.

The casing I0 comprises an enlarged portion l8 located outwardly from the fuel passages II, and which may be of circular form and provide a chamber l9 in communication with the passage l5.

A suitable diaphragm 20 is secured at its edges to the top of the casing I8 by means of a clamping ring 2| and clamping screws 22, which diaphragm is centrally connected to the control member after a manner which will be more fully described.

A second casing'section 24 is seated upon the clamping ring 2| and united to the clamping ring 2| and easing section It! by means of screws 25'. The casing section 24 is provided with an internal chamber 25 separated from the chamber l9 by the diaphragm 20, and has an upwardly extending portion 26 of substantially uniform external diameter upon which is adjustably positioned a clamping ring 21 having-radially extending lugs 28 which may be secured together to clamp the ring in the desired position longitudinally of the portion 26 by means of a screw 29. The clamping ring 21 is provided with upwardly extending arms 30, which may be formed integral therewith, and which support a frame 3|, to one face of which there is secured an auxiliary frame 32 carrying a solenoid casing within which is positioned the solenoid 6. The auxiliary frame 32 may be secured to the frame 3| in any suitable or desired manner, as by means of screws 34. A core piece 35 is positioned centrally of the solenoid coil 6 carried by the casing and is adapted to be drawn upwardly therein when the solenoid coil is energized by passage of an electric current therethrough. A lever arm 31 is pivotally connected to the lower end portion of the core member 35, as at 38, and provided with a resilient fulcrum consisting of a spring 40 suspended from a bracket 4| secured to that side of the frame 3| opposite to the solenoid frame 32 in any suitable manner, as by screws 42. The lever arm- 31 is provided with a plurality of openings 44 for receiving a portion of the spring 40 to increase or decrease the lifting momentexerted upon the control member [5 upon actuation of the lever arm by the solenoid coil. The lever arm 31 is pivotally connected to a clamping sleeve 45, as at 45. The clamping sleeve 45 is internally threaded for adjustable connection with the threaded end portion 41 of the control member [6 and is provided with a set screw 48 by means of which it may be clamped firmly in any one of a variety of adjusted positions upon the control member l5.

An externally threaded sleeve 50 is mounted within the upwardly extending portion 26 of the casing section 24 and is securely clamped in position therein by clamping nut 5|. The sleeve 50 is provided with a central longitudinally extendamaeos ing passage within which is slidably mounted the control member l6 and a head 52 for a purpose means of a lock nut 55 threaded upon a portion of the sleeve 53 at one end thereof and provided with a clamping ring 56 engaging one face of the diaphragm and clamping it firmly against the shoulder 54. The sleeve 53 is threaded upon the control member It at a point intermediate its ends whereby the control member l6 may be adjusted relative to the sleeve 53 and the diaphragm 20 by threading the same within the sleeve 53. Suitable packing 53 may be carried by the opposite end of the sleeve 53 for sealing the space between the control member l6 and the sleeve 53, which packing is clamped and held in place by means of a thimble sleeve 60 threaded upon the outer face of the sleeve 53 at the end opposite to that carrying the clamping nut 55. A coiled spring 62 is positioned within the chamber 25 of the casing section 24 and surrounds the control member 16 having one end portion bearing against the inner surface of the upwardly xtending portion 25 and the opposite end bearing against that face of the annular shoulder 54 opposite to that engaged by the diaphragm 20,

The clamping sleeve 45 is adjustably mounted upon the threaded end 41 of the control member 16 whereby 'it may be adjusted as desired to regulate the movement of the control member under the influence of the solenoid, and the control member [6 is provided with an opening 64, by which the control member may be rotated to vary its position longitudinally of the sleeve 53 and thus regulate the supply of fuel when the control member is in its normal operating position.

The diaphragm 20 may be formed from any suitable material and is preferably so connected as to possess a reasonable degree of slackness in that portion between its attachment to the control member l6 and its periphery in order that the control member may be free to move longitudinally of its extent to the desired degree under the influence of the solenoid. The diaphragm may be formed from a plurality of separate layers of impregnated fabric material, preferably of a type impervious to oil and of such a nature as to be substantially free from deterioration through contact with the fuel oil.

The upper peripheral face of the casing Ill and the lower face of the clamping ring 2|, as well as the cooperating faces of the shoulder 54 and clamping ring 56 are so formed and secured together as to hold the diaphragm firmly throughout the extent of their engagement and prevent any leakage of oil past the diaphragm. The packing 58 also prevents any leakage of oil past the sleeve 53. By thus arranging and securing the parts the upper chamber 25 is kept free from oil atall times to prevent any leakage past the upper portion of the control member IS.

The clamping sleeve 21 and frame carried thereby may be secured in any one of a plurality of adjusted positions upon the upper portion 23 of the casing section 24 to vary the position of the solenoid and the solenoid operated lever 31 relative to the control member 16 and locate the same in the desired vertical position for connecting the lever 31 with the control member I to for the lever 31, allows the core member 35 to rise to the extreme limit of its movement under the influence of the coil 6 without necessitating a corresponding length of travel of the control member IS. The provision of the spring member 40 also serves to slow up or render less abrupt the movement of the control member under the influence of the solenoid coil, whereby the increased flow of fuel oil effected by raising the control member is brought about more or, less gradually and not in a manner to furnish an oversupply of oil to the burner at a time when the .burner operation is incapable of utilizing it.

In the operation of the above mechanism, the starting of the burner may be accomplished manually, as by operation of the switch 8, or automatically, as by means of a temperature responsive member as is usual in devices of this character. In either case, the starting of the ignition mechanism from the protecto-relay results in energizing the solenoid coil through the connected circuits. This serves to raise the core member 35 which operates the lever arm 31 and thereby raises the control member l6 to increase the fiow of fuel to the burner. The degree of increase and rapidity of the action may be varied somewhat dependent upon the strength of the spring 40 employed and its location in the openings 44 of the lever arm, as well as by the location of the control member in the sleeve 53 and the position of the clamping sleeve 45. The movement desired for the control member may be regulated substantially by loosening the clamping screw 48 and rotating the control member [6 to turn it up or down in the sleeve 53 by means of a pin passed through the opening 64 in the control member. This adjustment regulates substantially the extent of movement of the control member under the influence of the solenoid coil with reference to the flow of fuel through the supply pipe, but is subject to modification by adjusting the sleeve 50, the head 52 of which serves as a stop to be engaged by the sleeve 60 when the control member I6 is moved upwardly by passing current through the solenoid coil. The regulation of the fuel flow through the fuel supply pipe under normal operating conditions is thus accomplished by adjusting the control member IS in the sleeve 53 by rotating the control member in the sleeve as above described. This adjustment fixes the normal operating position of the control member with reference to the supply pipe to regulate the flow of fuel under normal conditions or when the control member is not raised through operation of the solenoid coil. The adjustment ofthe sleeve 50 in the casing 24 limits the extent of upward movement of the control member when it is raised under the influence of the solenoid coil, or, in other words, this adjustment fixes the length of stroke or extent of movement of the control member when actuated through ener- I sleeve 53 and serves to return the control member iii to its normal operating position after it has been raised through the operation of the solenoid, and maintains the control member resiliently in normal operating position at all times except when the same is being raised or maintained in raised position by operation of the solenoid. 1

After the ignition mechanism has operated for a suflicient time to ignite the burner fully and secure complete combustion, the thermostat 4 is actuated to cut off the current from the solenoid coil. The core member 35 then falls to its normal position, and the control member I6 is returned to its normal operating position by the spring 62 acting against the sleeve 53. In no case does the control member I6 prevent entirely the flow of fuel through the fuel supply pipe, nor does it open the fuel supply pipe to such a degree as to exceed materially the requirements of the burner upon starting.

The main features of the burner control system. are well known in the art, as is shown by the disclosure contained in U. S. Patent No. 1,908,493, dated May 9, 1933, and comprise a main circuit to a protecto-relay from which branch circuits lead to the igniter 3, motor 5, etc. In the drawings, the current to the protecto-relay from the main circuit is shown as controlled by a manual switch 8, although in general a room temperature control member which is automatic in its operation is located in the main circuit and serves as' the common control element for controlling the system after a manner well known in this art.

In the present case the circuit to the solenoid coil 6 through the thermostat 4 is added to the conventional control system. In the operation of the control system as shown current is supplied to the protecto-relay from the main circuit as is usual in devices of this character. Whereupon the protecto-relay acts to start the motor 5 and the ignition means 3 in the usual manner. Current is also supplied to the solenoid 6 from the protecto-relay through the branch circuit which is shown as connected through the thermostat 4 to energize the solenoid coil and raise the fuel control member It for starting the burner. The operation of the ignition means, starting the motor and energizing the solenoid coil 6 may be effected substantially simultaneously, but in any event the actuation of these elements is co-related through the automatic operation of the protectorelay to furnish an adequate supply of fuel, start the motor and ignite the fuel.

When the ignition means has operated a sufficient time to secure complete ignition the cur rent to the igniter means is cut off automatically by operation of the protecto-relay as has long been common practice in devices of this character. When full combustion has been obtained and heat developed sufficiently to act upon the thermostat 4, and operate the same, the thermostat 4 acts to cut off the current through the branch circuit to the solenoid coil. The thermostat 4 may be located in any desired position where it will be responsive to the heat developed by the burner. By making the current cut-off to the solenoid coil through the branch circuit dependent upon the heat developed by the burner 53 so that the normal flow of fuel desired takes place through the supply pipe when the lower end of the sleeve 53 is in contact with the upper face of the casing Ill. The coil spring 62 normally presses the sleeve 53 into contact with the upper face of the casing I0.

What I claim is:

1. A fluid flow control means comprising a flow pipe, a casing communicating with the interior of said flow pipe, a control member mounted for iongitudinal sliding movement in said casing for increasing or decreasing the flow of fluid through said flow pipe within limits short of complete cessation of the flow, a flexible diaphragm separating said casing into chambers one of which communicates with said flow pipe and one of which is out of direct communication with said flow pipe, a central sleeve carried by the diaphragm and adjustably mounted on the control member, means in said last named chamber constantly acting upon said sleeve, to move the control member into position to decrease the flow of fluid through said flow pipe, and means located outwardly of said casing and operable independently of casing contained control means for mov-- ing said control member into position to increase the flow oi fluid through said flow pipe against the force exerted by said constantly acting means.

2. A fluid flow control means comprising aflow pipe, having a flow channel therein, a casing the interior of whichconimunicates with the flow channel of said flow pipe, a control member mounted for longitudinal sliding movement in said casing having a portion extending within the flow channel of said flow pipe, means in said casing limiting the movement of said control member to increase or decrease the flow oi fluid through said flow pipe within limits short of complete cessation of the flow, a diaphragm connecting said control member and casing and separatingthe easing into chambers one of which is in communication with the flow channel in said flow pipe and one of which is out o! communication with said flow channel, means in said last named chamber constantly acting upon said control member to move the same into position to decrease the flow oi fluid in said flow channel, control means independent of chamber contained control means for moving said control member into position to increasethe flow oi fluid through saidflow channel against the force exerted by said constantly acting means, and a yieldable connecting means connecting said control member with said last named control means whereby the extent of movement of said control member under the influence of said last named control means is modified by the force exerted by said flrst named control member moving means.

. JOHN B. BERARD. 

